what with
idiom
—used to introduce the part of a sentence that indicates the cause of something
What with school and sports, she's always busy.
Examples of what with in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like the long lines on Mt. Everest now, hundreds of amateurs have saturated the community, what with advanced weather apps available on cellphones.
—
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
There are so many real beauties in it, like this couplet:
Even present tense has some of the grace of past tense, what with all the present tense left to go.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
The bearded, oft-shirtless health influencer and supplement-peddler is hard to miss, what with his bulging, leathery physique and penchant for ripping into raw animal organs with his teeth while brandishing assault rifles.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 May 2025
But the problem has persisted into adulthood, what with its occasional PowerPoint presentations and wedding speeches.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for what with
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
There are so many real beauties in it, like this couplet:
Even present tense has some of the grace of past tense, what with all the present tense left to go.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 4 June 2025
The bearded, oft-shirtless health influencer and supplement-peddler is hard to miss, what with his bulging, leathery physique and penchant for ripping into raw animal organs with his teeth while brandishing assault rifles.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 14 May 2025
But the problem has persisted into adulthood, what with its occasional PowerPoint presentations and wedding speeches.
—James Parker, The Atlantic, 13 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for what with
Cite this Entry
“What with.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/what%20with. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share